Firing mechanism for guns.



No. 812,431. PATENTBD FEB. 13,1906. J. F. MEIGS & H. e. JAKOBSSON. FIRING MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1905.

3 SHEETS-:SHBET 1.

attozmqo No. 812,431. PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906. J. P. MEIGS & H. G. JAKOBSSON. FIRING MECHANISM FOR GUNS;

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 31, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 812,431. v PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906-- J. F. MEIGS & H. G. JAKOBSSON.

FIRING MECHANISM FOR GUNS;

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1906.

' s SHEETS-SHEET a.

/ 11 mam UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN F. MEIGS AND HERMAN Gr. JAKOBSSON, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNORS TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, OF SOUTH BETH'- LEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION ,OF PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRING MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 31, 1965. Serial No. 243,552.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN F. MEIGS, a citizen of the United States, and HERMAN G. J AKOBSSON, a subject of the King of Sweden and Norway, residing at Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Firing Mechanism for Guns, of which the following is aspecificati on.

Our invention relates to the firing mechanism of breech-loading guns; and it consists of means for operating said mechanism and in certain features of construction fully set forth hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional plan of the breech of a gun with the improved firing mechanism and adjuncts. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of art of the breech mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detached longitudinal section of the sleeve of the firing-pin stem. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section showing the cam-sleeve and its cams. Fig. 5 is an end view looking from the rear end of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of the operating-handle and connections at the side of the gun.

In the construction shown the breech A has mutilated threads adapted to those of a rotatable breech-block B, carried by the hub E upon the swinging carrier 0, the latter provided with a locking device 10 and with means for rotating the breech-block, (not shown) which may, however, be of any suitable characteras, for instance, those shown in Letters Patent No. 748,086.

To permit both mechanical and electrical firing, the stem of the firing-pin is duplex in character, consisting, as shown, of a tube 1 and a rod 2, with a head D insulated from the tube at the forward end by insulating material 12 and at the rear end by the wooden-handle 3, to which both parts are attached, the rod 2 having a suitable connection 4 for the attachment of the electrical conductor. The firing-pin tube 1 is provided with wings 13, extending into slots 14 of the breech-block, so that the said firing-pin can slide longitudinally, but must turn with the breechblock, and a spring 15 for propelling the pin forward bears upon the wings 13 and upon a thimble 16, connected detachably with the hub E.

As shown, the hub 'E is threaded and adapted to a threaded opening in the carrier C, so that it may be detached therefrom when required, and to the threaded socket in the block B, which may be turned on the hub to carry the mutilated threads of the latter into and out of engagement with those of the breech.

The firing-pin may be drawn back under certain conditions by means of the handle 3; but for mechanical firing I provide a rotatable cam F, arranged to rotate within a chamber formed in the hub E between ball-bearings 18 at the forward end and an annular bearing-face 19 upon a plug J, which is secured detachably in the rear of the hub E to close the chamber thereof, and is provided with a hand-bail 20, inclosing the handle 3. As shown, the plug J is threaded and adapted to the threads of the hub E, and a locking-pin K, sliding in a recess in the carrier C, extends from the latter through an opening in the hub E and into a notch 22 in the plug J, thus looking all these parts together;- By drawing the bolt or pin K outward to 'a sufficient extent the plug J may be released so that it can be detached from the hub, and by further drawing outward the bolt K thehub E may be released and detached from the carrier. The bolt K is thrown inward by a spring 24 and has a longitudinal slot 25, receiving the end of a pin 23, and an annular slot 26, which receives the end of said pin when the bolt is partially drawn out and permits the latter to be turned so as to hold it in its partially-retracted position, and by pulling the bolt farther out a shoulder or shoulders 27 may, by turning, be brought to bear on the pin to hold it fully retracted.

The cam F may be constructed and engage the stem of the firing-pin in any suitable manner, so that the rotation of the cam will draw back the pin until the spring 15 is sufficiently compressed, and then release thepin to permit it to be thrown forward to explode the charge. As shown, the cam consists of a sleeve 30, having two internal cam-rings 6 and 7 with inclined edges against which bear projections 31 upon-wings 32, extending radially from the shaft of the firing-pin 1. We show two of said wings oppositely arranged, which prevents any deflection of the firing-pin, but

' 34,. carried in suitable bearings in the carrier C and geared with the cam F through the medium of bevelears 35 36, whereby the rotation of the shaft is the means of rotating the cam, and to prevent any such rotation and to hold the cam stationary until the breech-block has fully closed the breech the shaft 34 is provided with a lip 37, which bears against the face of the blOCK and prevents any rotation of the shaft except when the block is in firing position, when a recess 38 in the block will be opposite the lip, which may then traverse the said recess, permitting the shaft to turn.

In order that the firin mechanism may be operated from the side 0 the gun, we provide an operating-handle H at the point where it is desired to operate the parts, with intermediate connections of any suitable character. As shown, the operating-handle turns a drivewheel 39, which is a sprocket-wheel pivoted to the stud 44 at one end of the sliding arm 43 and receiving a chain 40, extending to another s rocket-wheel 41 upon a stud 42,, carried at t e other end of the sliding arm 43', which is supported by the two guides 51 and 151, secured to the carriage or cradle. A spur-gear 45 is connected to turn with the sprocket 41 and engage a pinion 46 on the shaft 34.

It will be seen that when the parts are in position the gears 45 46 are engaged, but that such gears are so arable, permitting the car'- rier C and itssha t to swing outward on recoil or to open the breech, the gears again engaging when the carrier is swung forward to close the breech. In case the ends of the gear-teeth should make contact on swinging the carrier forward, provision is made to permit the sliding arm 43 of the gear 45 to move forward, so as not to interfere with the closing of the breech, after which the rotation of the gear 45 will bring its teeth into engagement with the recess of the pinion 46. This movement of the support is secured by extending the hub of the wheel 39 through a slot 50 in a supportinglate 51, secured to the carriage or cradle o the gun,whereby the operating-handle, wheel 39, and arm 43, with the parts supported thereby, can all move together, a spring 52, connected to the arm 43 and to a stud 53 on the carriage or other support, serving to carry the parts rearward to insure the engagement of the gears 45 and 46.

As the cam shown is of a construction that requires that it shall rotate only in one direc tion, we provide means whereby the wheel 39 turns only in one direction with the handle H. Thus the said handle carries a radially-sliding clutch 54,. having a li 55, which, when the hand grasps the han le and forces in the clutch, engages a ratchet 56 upon the hub of the wheel 39 to turn the latter to operate the cam F, while a spring 60, connected with the handle and with the stud 44, turns the handle a part revolution in the opposite direction as soon as the handle has been released.

A spring 61 tends to hold the clutch out of engagement with the ratchet, and when the co- I inciding parts of the handle and clutch are E grasped by the hand this spring yields to per- Init the clutch to engage the ratchet. Instead of a ratchet the hub 39 may have recesses to receive the lip of the clutch when the lat- 1 ter is carried inward from grasping the han- I dle by the hand.

It will be seen that as soon as the block B begins to turn on opening the breech the recess 38 will pass from opposite the lip 37 on the shaft 34 and the latter will be held stationary, together with the cam F, and as the firing-pin turns with the block B its wing will be carried over the cam edges and the firingpin will be retracted; but as the rotation of the block is only to the extent required to disconnect the threads from those of' the breech the firing-pin will not be released upon opening the breech. Owing to this arrangement, however, it follows that upon closing the breech the firing-pin cannot move forward to firing position with its point beyond the inner face of the breech-block until the breech is fully closed, and premature firing is thus prevented.

When the gun is to be fired electrically, the cam F should be locked in position. A locking device for this purpose is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the same being a slide 70, movable vertically in guides of the carrier 0' and forked to receive an angular projection 71 on the shaft 34 when the slide is depressed. When the slide is raised above'said projection, the shaft can be rotated. Aspring-bolt 75 may enter either of two notches in the carrier 0, whereby the slide may be locked'in either position.

By providing a hollow hub we are enabled to place in the latter different kinds of pin-actuating appliances, the plug J being removable for this purpose and closing the chamber containing the actuating parts after they have been placed in position.

Thus it will be seen that the shaft 34 has an angular inner end and that the bevel-gear is detachable therefrom, so that other means may be substituted for the said gear for coacting with firing devices of a different character.

Without limiting ourselves to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, we claim 2. The combination with the mechanical firing devices including a rotatable cam at the breech of a gun, of an operating-handle supported on the saddle at one side adjacent to the trunnion, and connections between said handle and said devices, whereby said cam can be rotated in one direction only from said handle, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the mechanical firing devices at the breech of a gun, of an operating-handle at one side adjacent to the trunnion, and connections including separable toothed gears and means for rotating one of them between said handle and said devices, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the firing mechanism at the breech of a gun, a shaft for actuating the same provided with a toothed gear, and toothed driving-gear supported at the side of the gun engaging the gear on the shaft, the gears separable on opening the breech, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the firing devices of a gun and swinging carrier supporting the same, of an actuating-shaft and toothed gear, an arm at the side of the gun, a toothed gear carried by said arm adapted to engage the gear on the shaft, and means for turning the gear on the arm from a position at the side of the gun, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the firing devices, shaft and toothed gear at the breech of a gun, of an operating-handle at the side of the gun, and connections whereby the gear can be driven from said handle in one direction only, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the firing devices, shaft and gear at the breech of a gun, of gear engaging that on the shaft, a drive-wheel at the side of the gun connected to turn the latter gear, an operating crank-handle, a spring turning said handle freely in one direction, and means for connecting the handle with the drive-wheel to turn the latter in the opposite direction for firing, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the firing devices, shaft and gear at the breech of a gun, of gear engaging that onthe shaft, a drive-wheel at the side of the gun connected to turn the latter gear, an operating crank-handle, a spring turning said handle freely in one direction, and a clutch movable on the handle for engaging a shoulder of the drive-wheel, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with the firing devices,

shaft and gear at the breech of a gun, of gear engaging that on the shaft, a drive-wheel at the side of the gun connected to turn the latter gear, and an operating crank-handle, said drive-wheel and handle and gear connected therewith movable longitudinally in respect to the gun, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with the firing devices, shaft and gear at the breech of a gun, of gear engaging that on the shaft, a drivewheel at the side of the gun connected to turn the latter gear, an operating crank-handle,

said drive-wheel and handle and gear connected therewith movable longitudinally in respect to the gun, and aspring for moving said parts toward the rear, substantially as set forth.

1 1. The combination with the breech-block of a gun, its carrier and firing devices, of a shaft, connections for operating the firing devices'on the turning of the shaft, a toothed gear and means for operating it from the side of the gun, and a toothed gear on the shaft adapted to engage with but separable from the gear connected with operating means at the side of the gun, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with the breech-block of a gun, its carrier and firing devices, of a shaft, connections for operating the firing devices on the turning of the shaft in one direction, a toothed gear and means for turning it from the side of the gun and a toothed gear on the shaft adapted to engage with but separable from the gear connected with the operating means at the side of the gun, substantially as set forth. a

13. The combination with the swinging carrier, breech-block, and firing-pin of a gun, of a cam rotatable in one direction only for operating the pin, and means for rotating said camin said direction after the breech is closed, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination with the swinging carrier, breech-block and firing-pin of a gun, of a cam rotatable in one direction only for operating the pin, and means for rotating said cam in said direction after the breech is closed, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with the firing-pin of a gun, of a rotatable cam for operating the same, a shaft, and gears for rotating said cam after the breech is closed, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination with the firing-pin of a gun, of a rotatable cam for operating the same, a shaft and gears for rotating said cam after the breech is closed, and means at the side of the gun for rotating said shaft, substantially as set forth.

'17. The combination with the breech-block of a gun, of a firing-pin supported to slide in and turn with said block, a cam for drawing back and releasing the said pin, and means for operating said cam from the side of the gun, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination with the breech-block of a gun, of a firing-pin supported to slide in and turn with said block, a cam for drawing back and releasing the said pin, and means for operating said cam from the side of the gun, the parts arranged to draw back the pin by the cam as the pin is rotated in turning the block toopen the breech, substantially as set forth.

19'. The combination with the breech-block of a gun, of a firing-pin supported to slide in and turn with said block, a cam for drawing back and releasing the said pin, means for operating said cam from the side of the gun, and rneansfor preventing the rotation of the cam during the rotation of the breech-block, the parts arranged to draw back the pin by the cam as the pin is rotated in turning the block toopen the breech, substantially as set forth.

20-. The combination with the breech-block of a gun, of a firing-pin supported to slide in and turn with said block, a camfor drawing back and releasing the said pin, and means for operating the said earn from the side of the gun, said pin insulated and provided with means for connecting it in an electric circuit, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination of the rotatablebreech-block of a gun, a carrier and hollow hub supporting the block, a cam within the hub for operating the pin, and means extending to the side of the gun for operating the cam, substantially as set forth.

22.. The combination of the rotatable breech-block of a gun, a carrier and hollow hub supporting the block, an annular cam with-in the hub for operating the pin, awing on the shaft of the pin engaging said cam, and means extending to the side of the gun for operating the cam, substantially as set forth.

23. The combination of the rotatable breech-block of a gun, a carrier and hollow hub supporting the block, a double cam within the hub for operating the pin, wings on. the pin engaging said cam, and means extending to the side of the gun for operating the cam, substantially as set forth.

24. The combination of the rotatable breech-block of a gun, a carrier and hollow hub supporting the block, an annular cam, a wing on the shaft of the pin engaging said cam, an actuating-shaft supported by the carrier and gears whereby the cam may be rotated by the shaft, substantially as set forth.

25. The combination with the rotatable breech-block, firing-pin, cam, and shaft for actuating the cam, of means for preventing the rotation of the shaft until the breech is fully closed, substantially as set forth.

26; The combination with the rotatable breech-block, firing-pin, cam, and shaft for actuating the cam, of a lip on the shaft, and a recess in the breech-block arranged to. permit the passage of the lip only when the breechblock is in firing position, substantially as set forth.

27 The combination with the carrier,,hol-

low hub and rotatable breech-block of a gun,

of a firing-pin supported to rotate with and slide longitudinally in the breech-block, a hollow cam-sleeve, and a wing on the firingpin shaft engaging the cam of the sleeve, the

latter supported tov turn in bearings of the hub, substantially as set forth.

28. The combination of the rotatable breech-block of a gun, the carrier, a hollow hub supporting the block and detachable from the carrier, a cap detachable from the I and adjustable to-release the plug or both the plug and hub, substantially as set forth.

30; The combination with the breechblock, firing-pin and carrier of agun, of ahubsupporting said block, and connected-detachably with. the carrier, av plug detachable from the hub, and a locking-pin P sliding in the carrier and extending through the hub. and

' engaging a recess of the plug, substantially as set forth.

31. The combination of the carrier, breechblock, firing-pin insulated from its stern, means for connecting the same in an electrical circuit, a shaft and meansfor operating the pin mechanically, and a locking device for locking the parts when firing electrically, substantially as set forth.

32. The combination with the carrier and firing-pin of a gun, of. a breech-block, a hollow hub on the carrier supporting the block and adapted to receive the pin-actuating de' vices, and a detachable plug closing the. end of the hollow hub, substantially asset forth.

33. The combination with the carrier and firing-pin of a gun, of a breech-block, a hollow hub on the carrier supporting, the block and adapted to receive the pin-actuating devices, a shaft extending to the side of. the gun, and means operated by the shaft tov actuate the firing devices, substantially as set forth.

34. The combination with the carrier and firing-pin of a gun, of a breechrblock, a hollow hub on the carrier supporting the block and adapted to; receive the pin-actuating devices, a shaft extending from. the side of the gun into the hub, and means operatedby the shaft for actuating the firing devices, substantially as set forth.

35. The combination in a gun-firing mechanism, of a firing-pin having an insulated rod connected with the point, means for connecting said rod in an electric circuit, a cam, shaft and connections for operating the pin mechanically, and means for locking the shaft when firing electrically, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our JOHN F. MEIGS. HERMAN G. J AKOBSSON.

Witnesses:

EDWIN A. MILLER, CLARENCE F. FEHNEL. 

